Preview- Rangers (a)

Last updated : 26 October 2006 By Firparkcorner

And let's be honest, we are more than due something from the Ibrox club. They have beaten us in consecutive games for longer than anyone cares to remember and we have not won at Ibrox since that great day when Owen Coyle spoiled their nine in a row party. Since then we have triumphed at Fir Park but despite facing one of the poorest Rangers teams in years we have been unable to defeat them since Boxing Day 2002.

Before kick off last time the teams met

Many reasons have been suggested for our failure and one of the more prominent explanations was Terry Butcher's attitude before these games. He always made it clear, in the media at least, that we were distinctly second favourites. Everyone assumed that was not the case in the dressing room but you never know. Now Maurice Malpas has come out and said he believes we can take points and we're going to have a go at them. Our attacking and passing display at Celtic last week was an excellent effort – if we can recreate that against a poorer Rangers side we must be in with a chance.

Furthermore they have some question marks over who to play up front, Clement's return may disrupt the midfield a little and Alan Hutton, if he keeps his place ahead of Bardsley, is an obvious weak link in defence. We have the same long-term injury problems that have plagued as us for weeks but the team should largely be the same eleven that has done well for us recently. Clarkson in for Elliot is the only possible change although even that is unlikely. Instead, we will keep the same XI that featured at Parkhead and cross our fingers we are a fraction tighter at the back and a little more clinical at the other end.

Rangers have already dropped points at home by drawing against Dundee United and losing to Inverness so it is not impossible that we should take something. More likely (though) is that we will come up just short once more and take him plaudits but no points – 2-1 Rangers.

The last time we played Rangers – match report.